Child of Eden
Encyclopedia
Child of Eden is a rhythm action game created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi
, best known for Rez
, developed by Q Entertainment
and published by Ubisoft
. The game announcement opened Ubisoft's pre-E3 2010 press conference and was one of the first titles shown with support for Xbox 360
's Kinect peripheral. The game serves as a prequel to Mizuguchi's earlier game Rez and sees players shoot at various targets which produce melodic sounds upon destruction. It was developed for Xbox 360
and PlayStation 3
and is compatible with Microsoft's Kinect, PlayStation Move and standard controllers for both consoles. In April 2011, Mizuguchi announced that he had developed a unique corset peripheral for the game, which featured four controllers, all of which vibrated to the game's music. The new device is currently only available in Q Entertainment
studios, and is unlikely to see a retail release.
As was the case with Rez, Child of Eden is presented as an experiment on synesthesia
, integrating sound, vision and touch in one seamless experience. The game features music from Genki Rockets
.
, which is near completion, from a virus attack. If finished, Project Lumi would reproduce a human personality in Eden, the artificial intelligence
inside which Rez took place.
, the game revolves around shooting various objects that come onto the screen, which produce musical effects upon their destruction. Players can choose between using a lock-on function similar to Rez's gameplay, or a vulcan cannon which shoots a constant stream of bullets. Using Kinect, players can aim using their hands and clap to change weapons, though traditional controllers can also be used. Like Rez HD, players can use additional controllers to provide external vibration and during the gameplay will adjust the music to the actions and movements of the players.
The game will feature 5 levels, called Archives, each with a different visual theme. These are; Matrix, Evolution, Beauty, Passion, and Journey. Each Archive will be replayable, changing each time depending on the player's performance and style of play in the previous run.
awarded the game 'Best Motion Sensor Game' and 'Best Rhythm Game' of E3 2010. The title also received nominations for 'Best New IP' and 'Best Music Game' from GameTrailers
. Xbox World 360 magazine gave the game an 86 out of 100, quoting "Brilliant with or without a controller, Eden could last you a lifetime".
gave the title a perfect score. Stating that "Some players may be hung up by its brevity, but if its extension would have depreciated how breathtaking the rest of the game is, I don't think I'd have it any other way." IGN
gave the title a 8.5 out of 10 rating, stating that it is one of the best reasons to own a Kinect and that it's a game that just makes you feel happy while you play it.
Tetsuya Mizuguchi
is a video game designer and founder of the video game development firm Q Entertainment. He formerly worked for Sega were he eventually became the head of their United Game Artists division...
, best known for Rez
Rez
Rez, developed under the codename K-Project, Project Eden, and Vibes, is a rail shooter video game released by Sega in Japan in 2001 for the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2, with a European Dreamcast release and United States PlayStation 2 release in 2002...
, developed by Q Entertainment
Q Entertainment
Q Entertainment creates, produces, and publishes in digital entertainment content across multiple game consoles, PC broadband and mobile units...
and published by Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
. The game announcement opened Ubisoft's pre-E3 2010 press conference and was one of the first titles shown with support for Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
's Kinect peripheral. The game serves as a prequel to Mizuguchi's earlier game Rez and sees players shoot at various targets which produce melodic sounds upon destruction. It was developed for Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and is compatible with Microsoft's Kinect, PlayStation Move and standard controllers for both consoles. In April 2011, Mizuguchi announced that he had developed a unique corset peripheral for the game, which featured four controllers, all of which vibrated to the game's music. The new device is currently only available in Q Entertainment
Q Entertainment
Q Entertainment creates, produces, and publishes in digital entertainment content across multiple game consoles, PC broadband and mobile units...
studios, and is unlikely to see a retail release.
As was the case with Rez, Child of Eden is presented as an experiment on synesthesia
Synesthesia
Synesthesia , from the ancient Greek , "together," and , "sensation," is a neurologically based condition in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway...
, integrating sound, vision and touch in one seamless experience. The game features music from Genki Rockets
Genki Rockets
is a virtual band. The group consists of Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Kenji Tamai and Lumi. The face of the group is 18-year old Lumi, a fictional girl who was born in space on September 11, 2037, and has never been to Earth....
.
Story
The objective of the player in Child of Eden is to save Project LumiGenki Rockets
is a virtual band. The group consists of Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Kenji Tamai and Lumi. The face of the group is 18-year old Lumi, a fictional girl who was born in space on September 11, 2037, and has never been to Earth....
, which is near completion, from a virus attack. If finished, Project Lumi would reproduce a human personality in Eden, the artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
inside which Rez took place.
Gameplay
Comparable to RezRez
Rez, developed under the codename K-Project, Project Eden, and Vibes, is a rail shooter video game released by Sega in Japan in 2001 for the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2, with a European Dreamcast release and United States PlayStation 2 release in 2002...
, the game revolves around shooting various objects that come onto the screen, which produce musical effects upon their destruction. Players can choose between using a lock-on function similar to Rez's gameplay, or a vulcan cannon which shoots a constant stream of bullets. Using Kinect, players can aim using their hands and clap to change weapons, though traditional controllers can also be used. Like Rez HD, players can use additional controllers to provide external vibration and during the gameplay will adjust the music to the actions and movements of the players.
The game will feature 5 levels, called Archives, each with a different visual theme. These are; Matrix, Evolution, Beauty, Passion, and Journey. Each Archive will be replayable, changing each time depending on the player's performance and style of play in the previous run.
Pre-release reception
GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
awarded the game 'Best Motion Sensor Game' and 'Best Rhythm Game' of E3 2010. The title also received nominations for 'Best New IP' and 'Best Music Game' from GameTrailers
GameTrailers
GameTrailers is a media website that specializes in video game related content. It provides free access to original programming , game trailers and recorded game play. Along with standard definition , many of the video clips are offered in a higher resolution .Users can upload videos, create...
. Xbox World 360 magazine gave the game an 86 out of 100, quoting "Brilliant with or without a controller, Eden could last you a lifetime".
Reception
Child of Eden was met with very positive reception. JoystiqJoystiq
Joystiq is a video gaming blog founded in June 2004 that has since become one of the most successful sites within the Weblogs, Inc. family of weblogs. It is the centerpiece of WIN's own network of video gaming blogs, which also includes a blog dealing specifically with the popular MMORPG World of...
gave the title a perfect score. Stating that "Some players may be hung up by its brevity, but if its extension would have depreciated how breathtaking the rest of the game is, I don't think I'd have it any other way." IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the title a 8.5 out of 10 rating, stating that it is one of the best reasons to own a Kinect and that it's a game that just makes you feel happy while you play it.